2009 Award Winners
Award-winning project: Municipal development concept for the municipality of Bad Peterstal-Griesbach
Project partners: Gemeinde Bad Peterstal-Griesbach | Steinbeis Consulting Center Regional and Municipal Development/Kaiserslautern
Hardly any other socio-political issue is currently the subject of such intense public debate as demographic change and its consequences. Even now, local authorities in rural areas in particular are feeling the effects of population decline and an ageing population.
The municipality of Bad Peterstal-Griesbach (Ortenau district) has decided to address the consequences of the changing population structure for the quality of housing and life in the municipality at an early stage and to shape future local development in an active and forward-looking manner.
The Steinbeis Centre for Regional and Local Development at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern was commissioned to develop a local development strategy for the municipality of Bad Peterstal-Griesbach, which is undergoing demographic, social and economic structural change. Based on surveys of the local population, businesses, holidaymakers and day-trippers, a vision and objectives for the municipality’s future development were drawn up. In addition, specific measures and projects were developed, and proposals for municipal project management were put forward.
A catalogue of measures provided the municipality with numerous concrete project proposals. The scope of action ranged from project proposals in the areas of housing and quality of life, through transport and utility infrastructure, to local recreation and leisure. The projects are categorised into those to be implemented in the short, medium and long term, as well as into cost-intensive and cost-effective measures.
The drafting of the development concept was accompanied by public engagement through events, surveys and expert discussions.
Key to the success of the project are the expertise of the consultancy team, drawn from other national and international development projects, as well as the identification and discussion of innovative solutions.
Building on the local development concept, the collaboration between the municipality of Bad Peterstal-Griesbach and the Steinbeis Advisory Centre for Regional and Local Development will continue, with a view to implementing the measures set out in the development concept over the coming years in close cooperation with residents and local stakeholders. The concept also offers the municipality the opportunity to secure funding for the implementation of the project ideas.